Of all LeBron’s achievements, this might the most underrated. The ability to stay healthy is huge, especially for good players. If top players like LeBron miss games, the dropoff to their replacements is huge and extremely costly to their teams.

So, LeBron’s endurance has been pivotal.

But LeBron also missed his team’s final regular-season game each of the past six years, sitting out more April games half those years. His teams have typically been positioned to rest players, and he has indulged.

James says he plans on playing the remaining eight games as long as he stays healthy. After making that statement, he promptly “knocked on wood” at his locker with hopes of avoiding injury.

“I have no choice,” James said. “I don’t plan on sitting out any of these (eight) games unless something happens. I’m going to be in the lineup.”

“It’s never been part of my DNA,” said James, who has missed just three games this season. “If I feel I can get something, I’ve got to be out there for my teammates. It’s my obligation to be out there for them. I’m dealing with a few things but for me to sit out, I have to be dealing with a lot more.”

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The Heat (52-22) are locked in a battle with the Pacers (53-23) for the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, and that very well could go down to the season’s final day.

Plus, the more LeBron plays, the better chance he has of stealing MVP from Kevin Durant.

Durant leads the competition because he’s had the best season and voters have LeBron fatigue, but the race is still too close to call. If LeBron plays well these last couple weeks and Durant slips, it’s at least possible LeBron could overtake the Thunder star. LeBron definitely can’t win if he sits.

There’s a lot more at stake for LeBron than usual at this point in the season, and that’s why he’s taking this unusual step.

I’m very happy to see this but don’t pretend like it’s in your DNA, Lebron, when every year you’ve been sitting out. I also think that players have an obligation to the fans. They pay to come see these games and not all fans can afford to go to playoff games. I like when guys come to play hard every night and don’t just focus on the championship, so it’s good to see this from lebron.

Lebron rarely ever misses a game due to injury and doesn’t sit to rest during the regular season. Seems like its in his dna to me! Players resting at the end of the year is usually a coaches decision and it makes no sense to make guys play the last few games when chasing a ring. Especially if your seeding is already set. Fans should realize this and make sure they get get a ticket to an earlier game if the want to ensure they see the stars play.

With no. 1 in the East there for the taking, it is worth it. As well as the Heat’s reserves have played of late when thrust into big minute roles, there is no reason not to give Miami a chance to win every night.

If the Heat do lock it up at any point, though, this goes out the window.

I do give LeBron credit for his endurance. He does take a lot of hits and even though he exaggerates nearly all of them he always gets back up and he is rarely if ever injured for a long period of time.

You need to go watch some old film of Charles Barkley. That dude was the best at looking like he was just punched by Mike Tyson anytime someone touched him. Taking nothing away from Barkley because he was outstanding (and under-rated, IMO).

The MVP race is over. KD has had a better season and OKC has been better than the Heat in a tougher conference. What is there to debate? It’s not LBJ ” fatigue”, it’s more like LBJ supporters trying to “force” him into another MVP when it’s clear he’s not the MVP.

What makes you think that? Is KD retiring after this season? I see him only getting better. To quote Stevin A…”KD is coming”!! If he’s not already the best player in the world he soon will be. His overall numbers are just as good as LeBron’s and his scoring ability is unmatched. The only thing separating them at this point is a ring. Once (if) KD gets one, the NBA is his.

We’ll have to agree to disagree…that and wait until next season. Everyone said the same thing about Rose and we saw what happened there. Not saying that Durant will get injured, but there’s always that possibility. And if LeBron comes back with a better year next year (similar to last season), he’ll win the MVP again. Durant’s numbers are boosted from him playing without Westbrook for a good portion of this season. Let’s not forget what LeBron did as the one and only in Cleveland.

Fan of the game, there’s also the chance lebron gets injured. So if you’re going against his argument by sayin kd can get hurt, u must do the same for lbj. They are in the same boat. So your point holds true to both. Why not rebut and focus on a basketball point.

I’m not so sure about that. LeBron is probably going to end up with higher seed and is putting up an even more rare statistical season (first player in history to put up his statistical line – Durant, on the other hand, is just joining another player with his).

James leads his team in scoring, assists and rebounds while also being the Heat’s best defender. Durant, meanwhile, only leads his team in scoring.

So it’s very easy to justify giving it to LeBron again this year. Durant will probably Malone it though.

Hahahaha that dumb face.
And ur rebut was very stupid.
Kd was just a baby first of all.
And it doesn’t matter who showed up first.
The fact of the matter is Westbrook still wants to be just as important NOW. And it has been the knock on Westbrook for a lonnnng time. Many seasons. Ur building ur response on the sole fact durant was there first ?that doesn’t address anything. silly goose

It’s Durant’s team. It always has been Durant’s team. Durant holds the keys. And Durant actually encourages Westbrook to play the way he does because he thinks it’s what best for the Thunder. If he lets Westbrook steal his shine, that’s his own fault.

Liking ur own comment and disliking mine *
Doesn’t make ur point make any sense. Bwahaha

passoutblogger - Apr 3, 2014 at 2:48 PM

As a Cleveland fan I can tell you that regardless of the numbers no single player improves a team like LeBron does. Give it to Rose or Durant if you like but LeBron has a bigger impact which I think makes him the Most Valuable Player.

i wonder if anti is thinking the same thing @kb2408…..u know , that durant has the mvp locked up. i mean, why else would lebron play in the final games of the season? hehe. maybe to make up ground and win over some voters? oh well, who knows what goes on in that abyss called anti’s head.

I think Durant had a lot to prove this year since his team was bounced big time by the Grizzlies after Westbrook went out with the injury. Bravo to him for upping his game – I’m a LeBron fan through and through, but I’m more than happy to give credit where credit is due.

Yes, kudos to Durant. But I don’t think you’re giving LeBron the credit that he is due. You may not have noticed – perhaps you’ve started to take him for granted – but LeBron’s season is unprecedented. What he’s done this year has never been done before. And LeBron’s nightly responsibilities for Miami exceed Durant’s on the Thunder. The Heat rely on LeBron for nearly everything.

Durant obviously gets a lot of attention because he scores 5 more points a game (on 3 more shots), but LeBron consistently does enough to cover that gap.

This is probably going to be a case like 1997 when Malone won MVP over Michael Jordan. But – like what Jordan did in 1997 and LeBron did in 2011 – James will issue a reminder.

LeBron has a special regenerative ability. Every time you see him take a hit and lay on the ground like he’s dead, that’s because he nearly is. But when he gets in a fetal position and cries for a couple minutes he’s actually able to heal his wounds on the spot. That’s why it always seems like he’s exaggerating.

“Dwyane Wade has been hobbled” should be the opening of every story about the Heat. This is as clichéd as Tom Berenger’s character running out a bunt to first base with his bad knees from all those years of being a catcher.